Cyclocross - CX and SSCX races and training

No London League this weekend

It's going to be difficult for us train wankers to ride any London League round until Herne Hill.

Thanks Southern Railways.

Yep.

With the central league do I need to register with the league then pay entry or can I just turn up and pay race entry on the day without having to register for the whole league? And if so how much is it?

I'm racing at Halton this weekend. I'm affiliated with the league but I understand you can still turn up and race on the day, you just need to rent the timing chip for the day. Renting the chip is £10, which I think you get back when you return the chip, I'm not sure how much race entry on the day is, check BC

Also, my team is hosting a central league race on the 18th December which you should all try and get out to. There is a strong possibility that there will be a bridge, and mulled wine.

Where is it?

The Ashlyns School, Berkhamsted

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Love the poster! Thanks.

awesome, I might drive over for this.

incidentally did anyone do http://battleinthebowl.cx/ this year, any vids of the course out there? hoping to do it next.

There is also Eastern League this Sunday in Basildon.

~30 mins from east London.

http://www.easterncross.org.uk/race16-17-4.htm

Anyone ridden that course?

Where can I find Cross Vegas highlights?

Go to page 204 and watch the whole thing

I did it last season. That too is a good course though lacks all the features of RAF Halton. One short climb, one steep descent with a few tight corners at the bottom. A good off-camber corner that caught out some in greasy conditions last year. Close to the end of the lap there's some steep hummocks that some could ride and others couldn't. Mostly grass, I expect it'd be dry.

Oh yeah, there's a hoppable ditch too.

I did that too! It's pretty much a cross course but bigger: more riding time, taller climbs, longer laps. Grass infield with a track around the bowl then one tricky descent through the woods which you could ride fast with the brakes off but you'd get thrown around by roots and ruts a bit. I think the guy who came in second was on a mountain bike. I came third but they screwed up the results and despite me provided GPS data could not corroborate this, hopefully they'll sort that kind of thing out next year. Typically enough it was one of the few races I've podiumed in that provided big prizes.

I think there's some headcam footage on youtube somewhere.

Geo restricted... /-:

Try cycling torrents nl then.

yep, thanks. £20 on the day entry plus £10 timing chip deposit. See you there!

also, tomorrow evening, at 10pm watch Wout Van Aert win here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlB3r5ejShU

He broke a big toe in Cross Vegas, so that might hamper him a bit. Maybe.

Went to Dordrecht with my wife today to watch her nefew race the first Dutch race of the season. Watched the masters race first while walking round the course taking pictures and the watched the nieuwelingen race while trying to take a couple of good pictures of said nefew. He domminated the race from the first turn and won his third fourth race this season (first two three were in Belgium). Really nice day out. Must try this racing malarky next season.

Guy on the black Apex won the masters race, other guy passed us on foot while cursing his bad luck. Made for a nice picture though.

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Halton yesterday was great. Really fun and technical course. I wasn't gridded so was behind everyone when they decided to crash into each other on the first corner, but made my way up the field and the provisional results show me as 32nd out of 80. I was running 34/17 and seemed to be loosing a tiny fraction of time on the flatter parts but catching people on the technical bits, bmx skills paying off I think.

yeah! one of the best around London.

I must have been on the start line with a cracked pedal bar without realising it. Cue failing to clip in on the start, losing loads of places and the sight of the leaders until we hit the muddy double track bit, when I finally managed to get my foot in and get going.

Some of the corners were still pretty slippery and I was having to unclip a load and getting back in to the pedal was getting harder and harder until with two laps to go it decided enough was enough and disintegrated entirely, leaving me skating around on the pedal unable to get any real power down out of my left leg. I managed to pootle round to the end, only losing one place in the process, so not all bad considering.

It's going to be difficult for us train wankers to ride any London League round until Herne Hill.

Train to Three Bridges then it's a 15 miles ride out. I'm sure it'll feel like a lot further coming back. Weather's looking alright on Sunday so I might go for it.

Anyone else riding Eastern League Satdee?

Been out to the Bingley Cross in the Yorkshire league. Not a particularly thrilling course but as it's my first of the season it was good to get a measure of my fitness and remind myself of the technical stuff.

Having sold the Tricross and been a bit slack on getting a replacement, I rode it on the 29er so was happy with a Not Last in a fairly short field. Deposit has been put down on a Ridley X-Ride 20 which I'll have in time for the New College race in two weeks time. Should wring a few more places at least out of that.

Anyone going to be a Derby next week for the Trophy races?

Raced at MK on Saturday in the central league. It was a lot more interesting than I was expecting. The crit races at MK are boring so I had low expectations. This is my first season of cross and I am really enjoying it, I might actually start taking it slightly more seriously. What tyres are people running? I have continental cross kings purely because they were cheap, they don't seem to clear very well, will rocket rons be much better?
I was also struggling with pedal/shoes getting really clogged up, would putting oil or something on them stop the mud sticking as much?